Which 19 countries are under US review for green cards?

The U.S. government—under Donald Trump—just kicked off a sweeping review of green cards held by people from 19 specific countries. It all started after a major security scare: an Afghan national opened fire in Washington, D.C. In the aftermath, officials said they want to make sure every past immigration decision matches up with new, tougher security standards.

So here’s the bottom line: if you’ve got a Green Card and you’re from one of these “countries of concern,” your status is up for another look.

Which Countries Are on the List?

Here’s who’s getting extra scrutiny right now:

1. Afghanistan
2. Myanmar (Burma)
3. Chad
4. Republic of the Congo
5. Equatorial Guinea
6. Eritrea
7. Haiti
8. Iran
9. Libya
10. Somalia
11. Sudan
12. Yemen
13. Burundi
14. Cuba
15. Laos
16. Sierra Leone
17. Togo
18. Turkmenistan
19. Venezuela

If you or someone you know holds a green card and comes from one of these countries, your residency is now under review.

What Does This Mean for People and Policy?

First, expect more intense scrutiny. Immigration officers are now supposed to factor in things like how reliable your country’s ID documents are, whether background checks really work, and if people from your country have a history of overstaying visas.

If you’re from one of these places, you might see delays. You might be asked for more paperwork. In some cases, you could even see your residency at risk.

This isn’t happening in a vacuum. It’s part of a bigger push to tighten up immigration—including pausing asylum decisions for some nationalities.

The government’s main reason? National security. After the D.C. shooting, they’re justifying this as a way to keep the country safe, pointing to vetting gaps and geopolitical risks.

What You Should Do

If you have a green card and you’re from any of these 19 countries, pay attention. Stay on top of emails or letters from immigration officials. Be ready to provide more documents or answer more questions.

Thinking of applying for a green card now? If you’re from one of these countries, brace yourself for a much tougher process—more checks, more waiting, and a lot more uncertainty.

If you’re from a country not on the list—say, India—this review doesn’t hit you directly right now. But with immigration rules tightening everywhere, it could still affect how visas and asylum get handled in the future.

Final Thoughts

This 19-country review is a reminder: immigration policy in the U.S. can change fast, especially when security is in the headlines. For a lot of people, what seemed like a sure path to permanent residency just got a lot shakier.